What Europe needs to do in the face of American betrayal

[Infirmus]

Donald Trump has been, in recent weeks, repeating almost verbatim what Russian propaganda has been feeding the world in the last three years. Also, he demands from Ukraine (a victim of this war) rare earth metals contracts worth around $500 billion. That's more than both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan put together paid in reparations for WW2! Humiliating Europe is just a cherry on top. Europe, therefore, has to act accordingly.

Donald Trump should play a similar role for us that a heart attack plays for a heavy smoker--a wake up call and a cause of the firm decision to stop smoking. If this man won't make Europeans realize that the time of alliance with America has come to an end, then I don't know what will.

What Europe now needs to do is:

1. Realize that it's time for sacrifice and spending more (way more!) on defense;
2. Start a nuclear sharing plan based on French and British nuclear potential, as well as technology and know-how transfer to Germany, Poland, Finland and Romania (these four countries must become nuclear powers for strategic European defense reasons);
3. Postpone the green revolution plans until more peaceful times and go back to coal to alleviate energy problems and cost for industry;
4. Significantly improve relations with South America, India and China.
5. Try to fill the void that Trump created by withdrawing aid funds for e.g. African countries (the Chinese are already doing this on a large scale).

That would be a good start.

We have to finally realize how deeply unfair the modern American-dominated world is. How deeply unfair and inhumane are the forces behind it: economic (dollar as world's reserve currency), military (NATO) and political (G7, WTO, IMF, World Bank - all directed from behind the scenes by Washington overlords). We live in the world of structural violence with the USA being the centre of financial control and capital accumulation - impoverishing the world and depleting its finite resources (if an average Chinese consumed as much as an average American we would need three additional planets like Earth!). One way or another, it looks like thanks to Donald Trump the mono-polar, American-dominated world is slowly becoming a thing of the past. And it's not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Nithavela]

Donald Trump has been, in recent weeks, repeating almost verbatim what Russian propaganda has been feeding the world in the last three years. Also, he demands from Ukraine (a victim of this war) rare earth metals contracts worth around $500 billion. That's more than both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan put together paid in reparations for WW2! Humiliating Europe is just a cherry on top. Europe, therefore, has to act accordingly.

Donald Trump should play a similar role for us that a heart attack plays for a heavy smoker--a wake up call and a cause of the firm decision to stop smoking. If this man won't make Europeans realize that the time of alliance with America has come to an end, then I don't know what will.

What Europe now needs to do is:

1. Realize that it's time for sacrifice and spending more (way more!) on defense;
2. Start a nuclear sharing plan based on French and British nuclear potential, as well as technology and know-how transfer to Germany, Poland, Finland and Romania (these four countries must become nuclear powers for strategic European defense reasons);
3. Postpone the green revolution plans until more peaceful times and go back to coal to alleviate energy problems and cost for industry;
4. Significantly improve relations with South America, India and China.
5. Try to fill the void that Trump created by withdrawing aid funds for e.g. African countries (the Chinese are already doing this on a large scale).

That would be a good start.

We have to finally realize how deeply unfair the modern American-dominated world is. How deeply unfair and inhumane are the forces behind it: economic (dollar as world's reserve currency), military (NATO) and political (G7, WTO, IMF, World Bank - all directed from behind the scenes by Washington overlords). We live in the world of structural violence with the USA being the centre of financial control and capital accumulation - impoverishing the world and depleting its finite resources (if an average Chinese consumed as much as an average American we would need three additional planets like Earth!). One way or another, it looks like thanks to Donald Trump the mono-polar, American-dominated world is slowly becoming a thing of the past. And it's not necessarily a bad thing.

I agree with most parts, but not with the third one. A reaction to climate change has already been postponed for decades, because there was always something going on. Climate change isn't going to patiently wait until we humans have sorted out our inter-species problems. It's here now and already wrecking heavy damage.

 

[Infirmus]

Climate change isn't going to patiently wait until we humans have sorted out our inter-species problems.

Of course it's not going to wait.

However, as you probably know, Europe is responsible for merely around 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions, so even if we stop our industry completely, plunging our people in poverty and destroying our economies, it won't change that much with America, China, India and Japan more or less disregarding the issue.

We have a huge war right behind our borders. Not the best time to weaken our economies, even if eventually the green revolution is inevitable. 5-10 years won't make that much of a difference and these years are vital for preparing our defenses.

 

[Nithavela]

Of course it's not going to wait.

However, as you probably know, Europe is responsible for merely around 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions, so even if we stop our industry completely, plunging our people in poverty and destroying our economies, it won't change that much with America, China, India and Japan more or less disregarding the issue.

We have a huge war right behind our borders. Not the best time to weaken our economies, even if eventually the green revolution is inevitable. 5-10 years won't make that much of a difference and these years are vital for preparing our defenses.

And you think there won't be anything going on in 5-10 years?

 

[Infirmus]

And you think there won't be anything going on in 5-10 years?

If we use the time well, we should by then be strong enough to finally end our reliance on the USA in the matters of defense and build enough of our own deterrent potential to make any invasion of Europe inviable. Then we can resume the green revolution in peace and safety.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

As an American, I am horrified about the possibility that Europe may move towards more independent security without America's involvement. However, I understand that Europe may have no alternative. Many of my fellow citizens do not grasp the significance of the alliance between the USA and the EU/NATO. They believe that Europe is taking advantage of America. Nonetheless, those of us who comprehend the relationship are genuinely worried about the prospect that Europe might not remain America's most reliable partner in the future.

 

[Nithavela]

As an American, I am horrified about the possibility that Europe may move towards more independent security without America's involvement. However, I understand that Europe may have no alternative. Many of my fellow citizens do not grasp the significance of the alliance between the USA and the EU/NATO. They believe that Europe is taking advantage of America. Nonetheless, those of us who comprehend the relationship are genuinely worried about the prospect that Europe might not remain America's most reliable partner in the future.

Why should we remain the most reliable partner of such an unreliable partner? It's a two way relationship, and the USA broke it first.

 

[Infirmus]

the alliance between the USA and the EU/NATO

The alliance was built not on pragmatism and common sense, as it would make more sense for Europe to be allied to China and Russia, because our economies are more complementary and the potential for mutual profit is immense, but it was built on the understanding that we share common values with Americans: freedom, democracy, equal rights and tolerance for people of all kinds, regardless of their race, religion or sexual orientation. We defended American dominant position in the world and helped to uphold it precisely because of the belief in the common values we thought we shared.

Donald Trump has been disregarding these values in the most blatant and disrespectful way.

Such voices are raising all over Poland, and Poland has always been an overwhelmingly pro-American country. If people in Warsaw are scratching their heads in second-hand embarassment caused by Trump's words and actions, then I can only imagine what is being said about him in Berlin, Paris or Rome.

Having said that, I still wish Americans all the best in their future endeavours but not as our allies anymore.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

Why should we remain the most reliable partner of such an unreliable partner? It's a two way relationship, and the USA broke it first.

I agree that is why I said “However, I understand that Europe may have no alternative.” In my last post.

By the way , congratulation! The German election results were as I had hoped.

 

[Nithavela]

I agree that is why I said “However, I understand that Europe may have no alternative.” In my last post.

By the way , congratulation! The German election results were as I had hoped.

Could have been worse, could also have been a lot better.

At this time, Merz has already identified the most pressing matter and has vowed to reform the election procedures so his party gets more parliament members.

 

[Vambram]

In my opinion, the USA has been carrying NATO and Europe for several decades.
Just because the USA's foreign policy is changing somewhat, does NOT MEAN that POTUS and the rest of our government no longer considers Europe to be our allies. In my opinion, what I am seeing here from people, who I think are European, is an big time over reaction.

 

[Infirmus]

what I am seeing here from people, who I think are European, is an big time over reaction.

I hope you're right. I really do.

 

[FireDragon76]

I agree with most parts, but not with the third one. A reaction to climate change has already been postponed for decades, because there was always something going on. Climate change isn't going to patiently wait until we humans have sorted out our inter-species problems. It's here now and already wrecking heavy damage.

Carbon-fascism is Putin's power base. Attacking global warming head on is ultimately undermining the power structures that authoritarians like Putin rely upon.

 

[trophy33]

What Europe now needs to do is:

1. Realize that it's time for sacrifice and spending more (way more!) on defense;

I read an analysis recently and it seems that the EU (let us not talk about the whole Europe like Belarus, Serbia etc which would be more complicated) has quite sufficient military capabilities already. There are just few areas we need to level up our game - mainly unified communication, satellites and several weaponry groups.

Our reliance on the USA could be dealt with in about 5 years and we could be basically equal in like 10 years. Without astronomical new expenditures, even.

4. Significantly improve relations with South America, India and China.

I do not know about China, because there are some problems regarding different political systems and values, but I would certainly include Canada.

 

[Nithavela]

I read an analysis recently and it seems that the EU (let us not talk about the whole Europe like Belarus, Serbia etc which would be more complicated) has quite sufficient military capabilities already. There are just few areas we need to level up our game - mainly unified communication, satellites and several weaponry groups.

I think the one area where european troops are lagging behind US troops and russian troops is actual combat experience. You can train as much as you want and have great equipment, but that still won't replace the need for actually fighting in wars.

 

[trophy33]

I think the one area where european troops are lagging behind US troops and russian troops is actual combat experience. You can train as much as you want and have great equipment, but that still won't replace the need for actually fighting in wars.

On a more massive scale, yes. But specific units participated in basically all recent US wars. But its hard to have real experience when you do not want to have wars, so I do not know how to solve this problem.

Maybe some unit rotation in local conflicts under the UN mandate. But even this would not prepare a country for a massive scale attack with heavy artillery etc. Even the US wars we participated in were asymmetric, always against a significantly technologically weaker enemy.

However, the US military also does not have this experience. The only two countries that do now are Ukraine and Russia.

 

[JustaPewFiller]

As an American, I am horrified about the possibility that Europe may move towards more independent security without America's involvement. However, I understand that Europe may have no alternative. Many of my fellow citizens do not grasp the significance of the alliance between the USA and the EU/NATO. They believe that Europe is taking advantage of America. Nonetheless, those of us who comprehend the relationship are genuinely worried about the prospect that Europe might not remain America's most reliable partner in the future.

I agree.

For all those in the US that seem to be pushing and screaming for a much weaker US - EU / NATO alliance I would caution...

Be careful what you ask you for, you may get it and once you get it, it may be far from you liking.

 

[Helmut-WK]

Donald Trump has been, in recent weeks, repeating almost verbatim what Russian propaganda has been feeding the world in the last three years.

It turns out that the rumors he is a Russian (former Soviet) agents were true.

What Europe now needs to do is:

First of all, Europe should not only react, but takes initiative so Trump has to react:

• One argument from Putin (and hence, Trump) is that a free Ukraine allied with NATO is a threat to Russia. But the Transnistria occupation by Russian troops, and the Kaliningrad exclave are a threat to NATO countries. So if the Ukraine is forced to abandon any plans for NATO membership, these two regions should be demilitarized. Putin can trust that they will not be taken by NATO because that would be the perfect pretext for him to take the Ukraine.
• If Trump w3ants Greenland, this cannot be paid with money, he must offer territory. Exchanging New England for Greenland would be a fair deal, isn't it? Let's see how Trump reacts to that.
• There should be neutral (Indian, Brazilian, or the like) troops in Ukraine to oversee the peace deal.

3. Postpone the green revolution plans until more peaceful times and go back to coal to alleviate energy problems and cost for industry;

No good idea: The Russian war on Ukraine already has put much extra CO2 into the atmosphere, e.g. by burning gasoline or wildfires. If the (not very revolutionairy) green plans will not be executed, Europe will suffer heavily. From tons of millions of refugees (who want to escape 130 °F in Africa) to desertification of Portugal, Spain and half of Italy …

4. Significantly improve relations with South America, India and China.

A necessary evil: China is a tyranny, India gets more and more autocratic. Only in South America you find functioning democracies. Democracy will lose.

But it seems the best way is to threaten Trump: If we don't get a fair deal, we are forced to make a deal with China … the USA always took advantage of Europe with their big tech companies like Meta. Billions do Euros went into the USA for almost nothing but a flood of disinformation hedged by FB, X and so on.

5. Try to fill the void that Trump created by withdrawing aid funds for e.g. African countries (the Chinese are already doing this on a large scale).

Parts of Africa are now controlled by Putin's allies. They rejoice having get rid of France (and hence, Europe). Aid funds are not enough to counter that.

And who can pay that aid funds? Should we neglect our defense?

One way or another, it looks like thanks to Donald Trump the mono-polar, American-dominated world is slowly becoming a thing of the past. And it's not necessarily a bad thing.

The Chinese neo-colonialism is not better than the USA version. Don't be deceived by the fact that it (as every form of colonialism) starts rather moderate.

 

[Helmut-WK]

If we use the time well, we should by then be strong enough to finally end our reliance on the USA in the matters of defense and build enough of our own deterrent potential to make any invasion of Europe inviable. Then we can resume the green revolution in peace and safety.

Do we have that time?

Since about 2020, the climate change is accelerating. In 5 or 10 years it might be too late to avoid a 3-Kelvin warming. We already took the 1.5-Kelvin line in late 2023.

Draughts, storms and floods will take so much of our infrastructure, that an economic drop will consume much of what you want then to take into green reforms.

 

[RDKirk]

And you think there won't be anything going on in 5-10 years?

Yes, the climate is changing. But whether or not the change is because of human activity (an inane argument), the only way human activity could divert it now would be to roll back world technology to pre-industrial and maybe even pre-agricultural levels.

"Green initiatives" depending on super-technology conveniently ignore their effects on developing nations, not only in the cost of purchasing them but also in the cost of producing them.

There is no global will to roll back technology to the point of pushing back the changing climate.

I'll repeat that: There is no global will for that effort. You're not going to get African nations or China or India to give up their own development, even if you can convince First World nations to take a step backward.

At this point, we should turn our efforts to enduring the changing climate.